Abstracts AB117
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL VOLUME 127, NUMBER 2
Education of Proper Technique of Respiratory Devices: A Survey of Pharmacists N. Baman, T. Craig; Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA. RATIONALE: The involvement of pharmacists to help ensure that patients have and know how to use appropriate medications has been repeatedly demonstrated to be an effective component of successful quality improvement interventions. The objective of this survey was to document the experiences of pharmacists in regards to the education of patients on respiratory devices. METHODS: After IRB approval, a 7-question web-based survey was sent in August of 2010 to a total of 900 active members of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, excluding students, retired pharmacists, and unlicensed pharmacists. RESULTS: Of the 900 active members, 93 pharmacists responded (10.3%). Of these, 80.2% felt that pharmacists should be primarily responsible for educating patients about proper technique of respiratory devices but only 46.7% had been formally trained. A total of 55.5% of pharmacists did not feel ‘‘completely comfortable’’ teaching proper technique. Eightyeight pharmacists (94.7%) felt that an educational session regarding proper technique to pharmacists would be beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with asthma and other respiratory disorders, the education of patients and caregivers in regards to the administration of medicine is critical. As the use of free drug samples distributed by physicians has received increasing national attention, many outpatient offices are limiting or eliminating the distribution of medications, including respiratory devices. This study presents a snapshot of the role of education by pharmacists and the need to stress respiratory device education in this population.
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Efficiency Of Test For Respiratory And Asthma Control In Kids Aged 1-5 Years (TRACK) By Guardian Compared With Doctor In Thai Children C. Saowapark, G. Phongsamart, M. Vangweerawong; Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok, THAILAND. _ 5 years RATIONALE: Asthma and recurrent wheezing in children aged < are one of the common health problems in Thailand. A validated question_ 5 years. We naire is needed to monitor respiratory control in children < evaluate reliability and validity of Murphy’s TRACK in Thai-translated version. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was performed among parents/caregivers of children under 5 with asthma and recurrent wheezing .Primary outcome is asthma control level and appropriate cut-off score. Secondary outcome is treatment option and symptoms status. RESULT: There were 297 parents/caregivers enrolled to answer the questionnaires. Mean age of their children is 46.53 6 15.47 months. The 5-items of TRACK include frequency of respiratory symptoms (wheeze, cough, shortness of breath), activity limitation, nighttime awakening in the past 4 weeks; rescue medication used in the past 3 months; and oral corticosteroid used in the previous year. Reliability is 0.702. The mean score was significant different according to asthma control level, treatment option and symptoms status F5 121.261, 92.943, 67.5, respectively (p < 0.001 ANOVA test).The cut-off score of asthma control is 80 (sensitivity5 86.8 %, specificity570.6 %) _ 5 years is CONCLUSION: Efficiency of TRACK in Thai children aged < reliable and easy to use for the physicians to follow-up and change in therapy also by parents/caregivers.
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The Educational Program On The Inhalation Technique In A Group Of Patients With Asthma And Copd Using Aerolizer The Effectiveness And The Patients' Satisfaction I. Kuprys-Lipinska1, K. Wiacek2, R. Przyrowski2, P. Kuna1; 1N. Barlicki Memorial University Teaching Hospital, Lodz, POLAND, 2Novartis, Warsaw, POLAND. RATIONALE: The educational-observational program ‘‘Assessment of AerolizerÒ handling by patients suffering from asthma and COPD’’ was performed in real life conditions to improve the most common errors in inhalation technique and to study its effect on symptoms. _18 years) with asthma treated with budesonide METHODS: 3700 adults (> via Aerolizer and 3700 with COPD (> 40 years) treated with formoterol via Aerolizer participated in the program. The demographic and clinical data were collected using self-prepared questionnaires. During routine visits in out-patient clinic patient’s inhalation was corrected and written instructions were given. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was respectively 44 and 60 years in asthma and COPD group. Patients with moderate disease were the most numerous in both groups. At 1st visit under 50% patients with asthma and COPD used Aerolizer correctly. The most common errors were: failure to slow exhalation after inhalation and not holding breath for a few seconds. 24% responders with asthma and 27% with COPD made errors critical for drug deposition. After 12 weeks at 2nd visit over 90% patients with asthma and COPD made inhalation correctly. The critical errors were eliminated nearly in 100%. Moreover 86% of patients with asthma and COPD reported reduction of symptoms. At the end of the program over 97% of patients eventuated the education as useful. Over 96% claimed that received new knowledge about inhalation and over 94% notice that the better inhalation technique resulted in the better disease control. CONCLUSIONS: The program showed the effectiveness of the individual education and patients’ satisfaction from training.
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A Cross Sectional Survey Of Inhaler Technique And Training Among Dundee Medical Students P. A. Williamson, L. McKinlay, B. Ho, A. Y. Mohammed, B. J. Lipworth; University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom. RATIONALE: Healthcare providers are not fully competent in the skills required to deliver inhaler device education to patients. This has also been shown in undergraduate trainees. Inhaler education remains a cornerstone in the accurate management of asthmatics. This will inevitably lead to the detriment of patients as they are likely only to be as good with inhaler device and technique as their instructor/educator.If this is to be improved, then proper training should be applied at all levels of healthcare providers that deliver such education to patients. The aim of this survey was to determine the level of inhaler education among medical students. METHODS: Approximately 100 undergaduate MBChB students were invited to participate in this survey at random. They were asked to complete an anonymised questionnaire with only their year of study made known for subsequent analyses. They were also assessed on their pressurised metered dose inhaler technique by use of an aerosol inhalation monitor. Visual analogue scores were used to determine students’ confidence with inhaler technique. RESULTS: 56% of students had received training on inhalers. Mean onfidence levels of all students was 34%. 70% of students knew when was appropriate to check inhaler technique. 88% of all students felt they required further training. CONCLUSIONS: Training and education should be improved which may ultimately lead to better control, improved concordance and reduced side effects of therapy.
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